One of this year’s most eagerly anticipated matchups has landed exclusively live on BoxNation in the UK with undefeated Irish sensation Carl Frampton taking on unbeaten featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz next Saturday night (July 30).
The sizzling showdown between two of the world’s very best fighters has long been mooted but at the Barclays Center in New York on July 30th someone’s perfect record will be lost in a clash that on paper is a fight of the year contender.
Both Frampton and Santa Cruz are aggressive fighters who refuse to take a back step, making this battle one not to miss.
Belfast’s Frampton, with a record of 22 wins and 14 KOs, has vacated his super-bantamweight world titles to make the move up to the 126-pound division where he will challenge Mexican star Santa Cruz, 32 wins and 18 KOs, for the WBA Super world featherweight championship.
This latest challenge for Frampton comes hot on the heels of his one sided victory back in February 2016 against former world champion Scott Quigg in Manchester.
Frampton, trained and mentored by father and son duo Barry and Shane McGuigan has set his sights on conquering a second weight division, for the same title Barry McGuigan previously held during his illustrious career.
The acquisition of Santa Cruz v Frampton adds yet another mouth-watering fight to the BoxNation schedule, which is set to air a host of top fights over the coming weeks including Terence Crawford v Viktor Postol and pound-for-pound star Canelo Alvarez v Liam Smith.
“I’ve never been to New York before and I’m looking forward to this big opportunity to put on a show for new fans in a new city,” said Santa Cruz. “I always fight for the fans and I’m excited to be able to do that somewhere I haven’t been before. Frampton is a good fighter. He has power and skills and he moves when he has to, but he has a weak chin. When he gets caught with a good punch, he goes down. He doesn’t like pressure and I have that. I’m looking forward to putting on an exciting show at the Barclays Center and I hope I leave with lots of new fans.”
“I am in terrific shape, I feel fantastic in the gym and I am ready for the biggest fight of my career,” said Frampton. “On July 30 I will become a two weight world champion. I respect Leo Santa Cruz, he is a great fighter and person, but I am preparing meticulously to overcome any challenge he brings. I cannot wait to hear the crowd at Barclays Center. It is my first time boxing in New York, where some of the greatest fights have taken place. I know there will be a large number of fans travelling from the UK and Ireland but there is also a huge Irish American audience and I am eager to show them all what I can do.”
Carl Frampton’s manager and promoter Barry McGuigan, said: “We are thrilled that BoxNation will broadcast the biggest fight of Carl Frampton’s career to date against undefeated three weight world champion Leo Santa Cruz. This contest has all the ingredients needed to be fight of the year, as the all-action style of Santa Cruz collides with Frampton’s counter-punching and power. A Frampton victory would see Carl become the first Northern Irishman in history to win world titles at two weight classes. New York is a prestigious fighting city where some of the greatest fights in history have taken place so there could be no better venue for this great match up. Watch it live and exclusively on BoxNation on July 30th – fight fans you are in for a treat.”
Frank Warren, Chairman of BoxNation, said: “We are delighted to have landed this fight exclusively live on BoxNation. It is great to have Carl back fighting on our channel, the same place he won his first world title back in 2014. Both Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz are renowned for their exciting and all-action fighting styles. This is a genuine 50-50 fight and one that has been talked about for a while, so we are very pleased that BoxNation will be the UK and Irish broadcaster of a showdown that has all the makings to go down in the history of the sport.”
